Understanding the Aging Process and Its Effect on Your Facial Appearance

Nobody is immune from the effects of the aging process. At a certain age, it seems as though every birthday brings about a new wrinkle or crease. Here, Drs. Robert Graper and Garrett Harper share an overview of what happens to the facial appearance with age. To continue the conversation, our plastic surgeons share some of our best anti-aging solutions.

Deepening Wrinkles and Creases in the Skin

In our 20s and early 30s, our skin has a good supply of collagen and elastin, two proteins that are essential for firm, smooth and supple skin. But the body’s supply of collagen and elastin dwindles with age and the skin can become thin and crinkled, like crepe paper. Years of repeated facial expressions, like frowning, squinting or smiling, can also etch permanent lines around the eyes, brows and mouth.

Loss of Volume and Fullness

In the younger years, the face tends to look full and perky, particularly around the cheeks, temples, forehead, eyes and mouth. With age, we lose fat, or fat can sink downward, accumulating around the lower half of the face, including the chin, jowl area and neck. The facial features that were formerly full and perky start to look sunken and droopy.

Sun Exposure Catches Up

In addition to wrinkles, creases and jowls, sun damage can also start to catch up in our forties and fifties. Years of overexposure to the sun can cause noticeable sun spots, brown spots or areas of hyperpigmentation, creating an uneven skin tone.

How to Age Gracefully

If you are bothered by age-related changes in your facial appearance and wish to age more gracefully, Dr. Graper and Dr. Harper can help. At Graper Cosmetic Surgery, we offer a wide range of surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments to turn back the clock and help our patients age more gracefully.

If you are concerned about volume loss, dermal fillers are a great option to restore fullness and shape. Botox can soften lines and creases caused by repeated facial expressions. Laser skin resurfacing can improve the appearance of sun spots, brown spots or broken blood vessels. And procedures like facelift and eyelid lift can take years off of the face’s appearance.

To learn more about our facial rejuvenation treatment options, please call (704) 375-7111 or send us an email today.